Frank Langella on Acting (IV)

October 12th, 2011

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“I was once told I act in the wilderness and that I have no point of view. I’ve come to trust that something will emerge from the wilderness. I like going in every which way during rehearsal. I usually work from the inside out, but sometimes it’s the other way around. I may rehearse at top energy or top speed, and then the next day I’ll play it low-key. It’s all a big cauldron. I throw everything in, see what works, and then do less and less. It starts as a minestrone and then becomes a simple broth” (From an interview with Simi Horwitz published on Backstage).

Frank Langella on Acting (III)

October 11th, 2011

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The cathartic possibility of the theater needs nothing more than the actor and the stage.

“You can have theater with [the smoke, bells and whistles of modern theatrical productions], but you can’t have the cathartic possibility of theater — that thing that lifts you beyond yourself as an audience member. You really just need the platform and the actor, another piece of humanity, sharing his humanity with the audience.” (From Weekend Edition Saturday, October 8, 2011).

Frank Langella on Acting (II)

October 10th, 2011

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Mean it.

“Don’t open your mouth if you don’t mean every word you’re saying” (From Weekend Edition Saturday, October 8, 2011).

Frank Langella on Acting (I)

October 9th, 2011

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Leap empty-handed into the void.

“It’s the hardest thing to do,” he says. “It takes a lot of work and a lot of time and a lot of competence to finally know that if you’ve learned your lines and you understand what they mean and you’re ready to go and you fixed the costume and the light’s OK, you just walk out onstage, and you leap empty-handed into the void, and you see what comes back to you.” (From Weekend Edition Saturday, October 8, 2011).

Try this opener with the next person you meet (and write me to see how it goes)

October 8th, 2011

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Why don’t we skip the introduction. I want to hear your question, please.

-Marion Rosen

Sweet Advice

October 7th, 2011

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Don’t drink anybody’s Kool-Aid.

But if you do, then drink everybody’s Kool-Aid

as an antidote.

He will be remembered

October 5th, 2011

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“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.”

Steve Jobs, in remarks made to Stanford graduates in 2005.

I don’t know where this came from

August 4th, 2011

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Rules are for those who don’t have any common sense. Therefore, rules are indispensable in modern society.

It applies to all areas of life, let me tell you

August 1st, 2011

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Warning: A large dose of foul language follows.

Here’s a sanitized version of the same advice.

La peor diligencia es la que no se hace

July 30th, 2011

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